Album met voorstellingen van fonteinen en bronnen 1568

This is an album cover designed by Joannes van (I) Doetechum, a printmaker active in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The cover presents itself as a study in materiality and tone. The vellum, aged and patinated, invites the viewer to consider the passage of time. The off-white surface, punctuated by irregular spots and subtle discolorations, creates a subtle interplay of light and shadow across the rectangular field. A single letter, 'G', is inscribed, disrupting the abstract expanse and drawing the eye to the center. The formal structure of the album cover, while seemingly simple, operates within a broader cultural context. It functions as a semiotic signifier, denoting not only the physical protection of its contents but also the intellectual value contained within. The cover’s materiality speaks to the historical significance of the album. The seemingly mundane quality of the album cover prompts reflection on the interplay between surface and depth, function and aesthetics. It invites us to consider how even the simplest objects can serve as sites of cultural and historical meaning.